Trope

Trope is the musical phrase contours (cantillations) which are applied to the words of a sacred text during public readings. These cantillation marks are called ta'amei hamikra in Hebrew, and the markings are standard, even though the pitch contours they represent to the reader may differ depending on the text being read. There are different trope for Torah, Haftarah (Nevi-im or "Prophets" (e.g Isaiah)), the High Holidays (Yamim Nora’im), and various megillot, such as the reading of Megillat Esther on the holiday of Purim. The Trope is not random, but rather follows a set and describable grammar. The Trope and other parts of the Masoretic text (such as vowels and pronunciation notes) were primarily copied, edited and distributed by a group of Jews known as the Masoretes between the seventh and tenth centuries CE.

Torah Trope

The Torah, popularly known as the Five Books of Moses, is hand-written by a scribe on parchment which is bound into a scroll. The Torah reading was introduced as an early form of adult education, so that the Torah would become the heritage of our people. It read in synagogue services in its entirety during the course of the year. It is read Shabbat and Festival (Yom Tov) mornings, weekly on Monday and Thursday mornings, and Saturday afternoons at mincha, on Rosh Hodesh (the start of the lunar month) and other occasions.

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